Kottamkulangara, a locality within the town of Alappuzha, derives its name from the large temple pond known as "Kottamkulam." The Kottamkulangara Sree Maha Vishnu Temple, dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu, is one of the oldest and most revered temples in Alappuzha. According to legend, in the 12th century, the great Hindu philosopher and saint, Sree Vilwamangalam Swamiyar, discovered a four-handed idol of Vishnu submerged in a pond. Another tale tells of cowherds who, while attempting to remove the husk of a coconut by striking it against a stone, witnessed drops of blood oozing from it. An astrologer later confirmed the stone's divine significance, leading to the immediate more construction of a temple and the commencement of poojas. It is believed that the temple originally stood at the Center of the pond, which has since been filled with sand. Though the deity has been worshipped since ancient times, historical accounts suggest the temple faced neglect in earlier periods. Sri Vilwamangalam Swamiyar is credited with consecrating the Chaturbhahu (four-armed) idol of Lord Vishnu and reviving worship at this sacred site.